If you are excited about the new operating system for iPhone but the iOS 18 update is not showing on your device, don’t get disappointed as the issue can be fixed easily. In the following sections, you will understand what could prevent the latest iOS from showing up on your smartphone, and what should you do to rectify the problem without going to the Apple Store to seek professional assistance.
Why Is iOS 18 Update Not Showing?
There could be several reasons that might be keeping the iOS 18 update option from being available on your iPhone, and in many cases, such issues are temporary. However, before getting to any conclusion, you must perform the following few checks to confirm that everything is working fine.
1. Incompatibility
While iOS 18 is available for all iPhone users, it can be installed only on iPhone XR/XS or later models. Therefore, if you’re using any incompatible iPhone variant, you must upgrade your device to become eligible to install the latest operating system.
2. iOS Beta Software
If iOS 18 is not yet rolled out in your country or region, the stable release won’t show when you go to the ‘Software Update’ screen. At this point, all you can do is, install any Beta version to understand the architecture and functioning of the new operating system.
On the other hand, if the stable release of the OS is out but it is not showing, your iPhone may have its Beta version already installed. In such a situation, you must first uninstall the Beta profile, and try to update your iPhone to iOS 18 again.
3. Other Reasons
A few other factors due to which the iOS 18 update is not showing on your iPhone include:
- Slow Internet connection.
- Apple servers are too busy.
- An old version of the software file was downloaded but not installed, etc.
What Can I Do When iOS 18 Update Is Not Showing?
There are some proven fixes to help you upgrade your iPhone to the latest iOS. These remedies are not limited only to iOS 18 but work for any operating system available for your iPhone. The solutions are listed below.
1. Verify Device Compatibility
As mentioned earlier, iOS 18 is available only for iPhone XR/XS or later. If you don’t know which iPhone model you are using, you can:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap About.
- Check the iPhone variant mentioned next to the Model Name field.
2. Remove the Public Beta Version
If the iOS 18 update is not showing on your iPhone, it could be because you have installed its Public Beta version. Therefore, you must get rid of that unstable operating system, and then wait until the stable release shows up. The process of deleting Public Beta involves removing the Public Beta profile from your device. The method is explained below.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down and tap VPN & Device Management.
- Tap iOS 18 Beta Software Profile.
- Tap Remove Profile from the next screen.
- Approve your action if any confirmation box comes up.
- Restart the iPhone to revert the software to the earlier, stable iOS version.
3. Remove the Developer Beta Version
Even if you have installed the Developer Beta version of the operating system, the iOS 18 update won’t show up until you remove the unstable variant. However, unlike removing Public Beta which could be done merely by deleting the Public Beta profile, deleting Developer Beta requires you to put your iPhone in Recovery Mode and then restore it via iTunes on Windows or the Finder app on Mac. The step-by-step instructions below explain the method in detail.
- Use the Lightning Cable to connect your iPhone to your Windows or Mac computer (a Windows PC is used here for reference).
- Launch iTunes.
- Wait while iTunes detects your iPhone.
- Click the Phone icon from the top.
- From the Backups section on the right window, click to select the This Computer radio button from the Automatically Back Up column.
- Uncheck the Encrypt local backup box.
- Click Back Up Now from the Manually Back Up and Restore column.
- Click Don’t Encrypt on the next box that comes up.
- Wait while your iPhone is backed up to iTunes.
Next, put your iPhone in Recovery Mode. Below are the steps for iPhone 8 or Later and iPhone SE – 2nd Generation.
- Press and release the Volume Up button.
- Immediately press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold down the Sleep/Wake button.
- Continue holding the Sleep/Wake button until the screen goes black and the Recovery Mode symbol (with a cable and PC icon) appears on the phone screen.
- Release the Sleep/Wake button.
- On your computer, when iTunes displays a notification that your iPhone has some problem, click Restore.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to allow iTunes to download and install the latest iOS on your iPhone.
- After iPhone restarts, set it up as a new device.
Next, go to Settings, tap your name from the top of the screen, tap Find My, tap Find My iPhone, turn off the Find My iPhone switch from the next screen, enter your Apple ID and password, and tap Turn Off from the top-right corner.
- Now, connect the phone to the computer and launch iTunes.
- Get back to the Summary window as explained earlier.
- Click Restore Backup from the Manually Back Up and Restore column of the Backups section.
- Choose the most recent backup from the iPhone Name list.
- Click Restore.
- Wait while your iPhone is restored from the backup.
4. Do Some Checks
If the issue persists, you may want to perform the following few checks to confirm that everything on your iPhone is working as expected:
- Apple Server
If the iOS 18 update is not showing on your iPhone, you must check if the Apple servers are up and running. You can visit the https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/ URL to check their system status.
- Check Power and Network Connection
Ensure that your iPhone is at least 50% charged and it is plugged into a power outlet. You must also make sure that the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network. You can check this by going to Settings > Wi-Fi, and then verifying the connection. If need be, tap to select a stable wireless network, enter its password to join, and then retry updating your iPhone to iOS 18.
- Wait for a While
Some regions of the globe receive updates a bit late. If you belong to any such part of the world, you are suggested to wait for a few days and then try again.
5. Update iPhone Using iTunes
If the iOS 18 update is not showing on your iPhone, you can try updating it via iTunes. The process is given below:
- Use the method explained earlier launch iTunes and connect your iPhone to the computer.
- If iTunes doesn’t automatically notify you that an updated version of iOS is available for your device, use the procedure described earlier to get to the Summary screen.
- From the upper area of the right window, click Update or Check for Update.
- Follow the on-screen instructions from there to allow iTunes to download iOS 18 on your computer, and install it on your iPhone.
Conclusion
There is nothing to worry about if the iOS 18 update is not showing on your iPhone. If your device is compatible, connected to a wireless network, and its battery is sufficiently charged, you can try the solutions explained above to fix the issue and update your iPhone to the latest iOS.
